Lead Service Lines: NYS THRUWAY – Indian Castle/Iroquois

What you need to know

The NYS THRUWAY – Indian Castle/Iroquois water system serves about 2,780 people in New York. Like many older water systems across the country, it uses lead service lines—the pipes that carry water from the main water line under the street into homes and buildings.

The system has inventoried about 39,209 service lines. Of those:

• 17,253 are confirmed lead
• 16,719 have unknown material (likely lead or galvanized steel, which can also leach lead)
• 5,237 are non-lead

This means roughly 34,000 service lines in this system are either confirmed lead or of unknown type. That's a significant portion of the system's pipes.

What lead in water means for you

Lead can leach into drinking water when it sits in pipes overnight or for hours at a time. It poses the greatest risk to infants, young children, and pregnant people, but can affect anyone. There's no safe level of lead exposure.

If your home was built before 1986, there's a good chance your service line is lead. Even if your line isn't lead, your home's internal plumbing (solder, fixtures) may contain lead.

For health questions: Contact your pediatrician or the CDC's lead hotline. They can advise on testing your blood and water, and on protective steps like flushing lines before use.

What the water system is doing

The system has completed an inventory of its service lines, which is the first required step under New York's lead service line rules. However, information about replacement plans or funding for pipe replacement isn't currently available.

Lead service line replacement is expensive and slow—it typically costs $3,000–$15,000 per line and requires coordination with homeowners. Most water systems are in early stages of planning.

Next steps for residents

• Test your water. Contact your water utility for a free lead test kit, or purchase a certified kit from a lab. Testing tells you if lead is actually entering your home.
• Use a filter. NSF-certified filters marked for lead reduction can help while you wait for service line replacement.
• Flush your tap. Run water for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking if water has sat in pipes for several hours.
• Contact your utility (NYS THRUWAY – Indian Castle/Iroquois) to ask about replacement programs, timelines, and any assistance available to customers.

```json [ { "q": "How do I know if my service line is lead?", "a": "The best way is to contact your water utility and ask if your address is on the lead inventory. If it's marked 'unknown,' have your water tested for lead. A certified lab can tell you if lead is actually leaching into your home." }, { "q": "Is the water unsafe to drink right now?", "a": "Lead in drinking water doesn't change the taste, smell, or appearance. The only way to know if lead is present is to test. If you're concerned—especially if you have young children—contact your water utility for a free test kit." }, { "q": "What's the difference between lead and galvanized service lines?", "a": "Galvanized steel pipes can also release lead into water if they corrode, though typically less than lead pipes. Both 'lead confirmed' and 'unknown' service lines may pose risk. Testing your water is the most reliable way to know if lead is actually entering your home." }, { "q": "When will my service line be replaced?", "a": "Replacement timelines vary. Contact your water utility to ask about their replacement plan and whether your address is prioritized. Many utilities are still developing schedules, and replacement can take years to complete across an entire system."